For new SNAP recipients who worked in the year prior to receiving benefits, 96% worked after starting the program. The program worked as intended – to help people get through life’s hurdles knowing that there is food available.

Eligibility is determined by taking a person, or a family’s, gross income (before any tax or program deductions are applied) at 185% of the federal poverty level. For a family of four, that amounts to $3,630.63. Remember that’s gross income per month. And that’s the cutoff point. So many more have less.

If a family or household (people who cook together) meet this test, then there are deductions taken out to determine how much in SNAP benefits they’ll ultimately receive. While it’s a supplemental food program, most people need it as their main source of food. It frees up other money to pay for other family necessities -- so much so that SNAP cuts extreme poverty in half for those in extreme poverty (living on $2 per day per person) who have cash income and SNAP, as opposed to those with cash only.

Connecticut had the 5th highest increase in child poverty last year, and more children (19.2%) are registering as food insecure – meaning they lacked assured access at all times to enough food for healthy, active lives.

What’s really shocking for a state as wealthy as Connecticut? 77% of households receiving SNAP in Connecticut have income below the poverty line (about $22,000 for a family of four in 2012) and 37% of households are in deep poverty. An average of $4.50 a day for food says to me that no one is gaming the system for easy living.